Really good thoughts, all of them. Refreshing not to hear any “mid-Fi” comments as well. Certainly with any system it’s a challenge to select the right speakers with the proper amplification. You didn’t mention which pioneer you had. Some late sixties early seventies Pioneers were very good sounding. I have always admired horn loaded speakers, but have never owned a pair. I’ve always noticed them being demonstrated with strings, piano trio, or solo instruments in which they almost always excel for their life like qualities. They do sound ‘live’, ‘dynamic’ and have incredible impact. But when I feel like listening to Presence by Led Zeppelin, their appeal goes away and the headaches begin.
That’s why I have always used EPI, AR, Definitive Technologies, B&W, and recently Focal. You can insert almost any sealed enclosure speaker with a soft dome tweeter here. They are listenable over a broad range of music without much effort.
A carpet would certainly help. If you love the speaker and your electronics you can make it work with your system. Don’t give up! Fire up that graphic equalizer and tame the harshness, or dial back the highs with your tone controls.
You don’t have to go tubes. I recently heard the latest Hersey being driven by an ancient Sansui 4000 receiver, playing some Miles Davis and female vocal Lps. Wow! I’m still thinking about how good the Klipschs sounded. They were sweet, powerful, laidback, dynamic and really life like. Makes me want a pair...for now anyway.
Best!
Norman
